CM Hamed Wafa & Chahrazed Djeroud win 2023 African Junior Chess Championship
CM Hamed Wafa of Egypt & Chahrazed Djeroud of Algeria won their respective sections in the 2023 African Junior Chess Championship that ended last week in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The event ran from 4th to 12th December 2023 at the Nouakchott Hotel in downtown Nouakchott.
Open Section
CM Hamed Wafa scored 8.5 points out of nine rounds to lift his maiden African Junior title. He won an IM title (conditional at 2200 Elo) and qualified to participate in the 2024 World Junior Chess Championship.
CM Hamed Wafa comes from the renowned Wafa family, which includes his two elder sisters, WGM Shrook Wafa and WGM Shahenda Wafa. Both sisters have won several accolades over the past few years, and their younger brother appears to be heading in the same direction.
Tarik Hallal of Algeria and FM Banele Mhango of South Africa scored 6.5 points in second place. However, Tarik Hallal took the silver medal as he had a superior tie-break, with FM Banele Mhango taking the bronze.
It was the first time that Mauritania hosted an African continental event. Their players found the going tough and took the last five positions in the standing but gained valuable experience.
It is unclear why the talented 16-year-old FM Mohamed Taleb Abedrrahim (2034) the joint winner in the 2022 edition, missed the event. It was an excellent opportunity for the lad to win such a prestigious home-level event, considering he is currently Mauritania’s top-rated player and 2021 Mauritania National Champion. He won the championship with an impressive 9/9.
A total of 17 players from nine African federations took part.
Sadly, Kenya did not have representatives in this year’s edition.
Ladies Section
Chahrazed Djeroud scored eight points out of nine rounds to win her maiden title. She won an IM title (conditional at 2200 Elo) and qualified to participate in the 2024 World Junior Chess Championship.
Jemima Paulo of Angola was second with 7 points, and her compatriot WFM Luzia Pires grabbed the bronze medal with 6.5 points.
A total of 11 players from eight African federations participated in the event.
Game corner
Links
2023 African Individual Junior Chess Championships on chess-results.com.
Games from 2023 African Junior on lichess.org.
Photos from the 2023 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
PGNs from the 2023 African Junior Open Section.
PGNs from the 2023 African Junior Ladies Section.
Jan Karsten & WIM Lina Nassr win 2022 African Junior Championship.
African Junior Chess Championship 2022 on chess-results.com.
Report on the 2022 African Junior Chess Championship.
Official Invitation AJCC 2022 Algeria.
FM Brahami Lamine and WIM Lina Nassr win 2021 Africa Junior
GM Adham & WFM Pires crowned 2019 Africa Junior Champions.
1st report on the 2019 African Junior Chess Championship by Kenya Chess Masala.
Day 1 report on the 2019 Africa Junior by Africa Chess Media.
IM Fawzy Adham wins 2018 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
IM David Silva of Angola wins 2017 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
Further reflection on the 2015 African Junior Chess Championship.
IM Nassr Ali of Algeria wins 2016 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
IM David Silva of Angola wins 2015 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
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Article by Kenya Chess Masala.
